Evolution
SS by Kelli
Part 4
"Still on My Brain"
Beautiful days are long gone
I can't seem to breathe
Feels like it hasn't been that long
Since you walked away from me
Justin can't believe it's been almost a year.
He looks back at 2002 as a year of growth.
A new life as a solo artist and without Britney...the woman whom he thought he'd spend the rest of his life with.
He recorded and dated and promoted and in the end, he was proud of his accomplishments. It almost overshadowed the empty feeling he still had inside.
A year ago he was happier than he'd ever been. Getting ready to go on a tour he was excited about with his group mates, he had just turned 21 and he had Britney by his side. And she was flourishing as well. She just came off of a the first leg of her new tour and her debut movie had just premiered.
Then it seemed to have all come crashing down...but in the long run, maybe it
hasn't.
Now I can try to act real strong
But you and I both know
I still think of you that way
And you should know, that
"Hey J," Britney says when she answers the phone in her LA house. The house that they once shared.
"Hi. How have you been?" Justin asks.
"Been doing good. What about you?" she asks, tapping the pen in her hand against her teeth.
"Can't complain. Hey, I'm on my way to LA for the AMA's, I was wondering if I could stop by."
She sits up straighter. "Oh...today?"
He chuckles as he makes his way through the Memphis airport.
"Yeah...if that fits into your busy schedule," he teases.
"Ha ha...you're just jealous. But yeah, today is fine. Is there something wrong?"
"No, we just haven't had a chance to talk in awhile..."
"No, we haven't. Well, I guess I'll see you in a few hours."
"Okay, see you then."
The beautiful lights, the star filled nights
They don't mean a thing
'Cause you were my star
So it don't seem right
Without you here with me
2003 is going to be a year for new beginnings...but in a different way. Justin's had time to heal and so has Britney.
The next step...rebuilding the friendship that has been hanging by a thread.
Justin watches the clouds go by as he leans his head back. He shuts his eyes and remembers the good times he and Britney shared.
Britney goes racing around her house as her phone rings.
"Hello?" she answers, out of breath.
"Hey there sweetie...did I catch you working out?" Lynne asks.
Britney laughs. "No mama, I've just been running around the house, picking things up."
"New Year's cleaning?"
"Kinda. Justin's coming over and we're going to talk."
"Is that good or bad?"
Britney pauses for a second. "It's good."
Now I can try to act real strong
But you and I both know
It's hard for me to say
You were my soul
Now I could say that I don't love you no more
And I could say that I've closed the door, for our love
And I could tell you I feel it's time for us to go our separate ways
But baby I just wouldn't be the same
'Cause girl your love is still on my brain
Justin smiles when he realizes that she didn't change the security code to her gate.
He pulls the car up to her garage and hops out of the car. He walks up to the door and knocks. Within a couple of minutes the door opens and Britney stands there with a smile on her face.
"Hi," she says. "Sorry it took me a minute, I was upstairs."
"That's okay," he says, pulling his sunglasses off and hanging them on the neck of his T-shirt.
"Come on in. I just made some peach tea...would you like some?" she asks.
"Sounds great. Is that your latest crave?" he asks, looking around as they walk up the stairs to the floor where the kitchen is.
"For now," she giggles. "How was your flight?"
"It was fine."
He settles down onto a kitchen chair and waits for her to bring him his glass of tea. She places the glass in front of him and sits in the chair perpendicular to where he's sitting.
"I guess you wonder why I asked to come over today..." he starts.
Now when you're in love
It takes time to heal
When someone's broken your heart
And changed just how you feel
Girl I thought that you'd never do me that way
But even after all I still think of you that way
She nods and shrugs.
"I've just been doing a lot of thinking...especially after the holidays..." he starts.
"Yeah, the holidays seemed weird to me this year."
He nods and takes a sip of tea. "Mmm, this is good."
She smiles.
"Anyway...I know I've been saying that we're still friends...but I really want for us to be friends," he says looking at her.
"I'd like that too."
"I don't like this awkwardness..."
"Me either." She bows her head and stares at her glass. "I read your Rolling Stone interview...that was sweet...what you said about me," she says almost shyly.
"Well, I mean it..."
She nods and then looks up at him. "Yeah, I know."
Now I could say that I don't love you no more
(I could say this, I could say this)
And I could say that I've closed the door, for our love
And I could tell you I feel it's time for us to go our separate ways
But baby I just wouldn't be the same
'Cause girl your love is still on my brain
"So...are you seeing anyone?" he asks, with a lump in his throat.
She shrugs again. "Not really. I've gone on a few dates but mostly just hung out with Laura Lynn on her campus...helped her move into her new apartment."
He smiles and nods. "I can only imagine. Did they treat you okay? The fraternity guys?"
"Yeah, they ignored the 'Britney Spears' image and hung out with Britney. It was fun," she ends it softly. "What about you? You still seeing Alyssa?"
He shakes his head. "No...we weren't really serious anyway. Just hung out together a few times. She helped me a lot, though. She's a good person."
"I'm sure she is," she says, staring at her glass again. "So...where does that lead us? Our friendship I mean?"
He smiles his lopsided grin. "Well, I think this...us sitting here talking is a good start, don't you?"
She returns his smile. "Yeah, I do."
Now love is a game
That we both like to play
Well will I win or lose if I go or if I stay, yea
Even though I try to hide my broken heart inside
Girl you know me inside-out
I can't get you off of my mind
"It's been so much fun. I feel freer doing this album than I even did for "Britney". The sound is going to be awesome and the lyrics are more personal..." she gushes.
He smiles at her glowing.
"I can relate now," he says nodding. "I know exactly how that feels. There aren't any ex-boyfriend bashing songs, is there?" he asks, leaning forward a little.
She giggles. "There won't be on the album...not that I didn't write any, though," she says, winking at him.
He throws his head back and laughs, slapping his leg with his hand.
"Sometimes it's scary that writing lyrics is our way of venting, isn't it?"
"Sometimes," she agrees.
Now I could say that I don't love you no more
(I could say that I, yea yea)
And I could say that I've closed the door, for our love
(Closed the door)
And I could tell you I feel it's time for us to go our separate ways
(No no)
But baby I just wouldn't be the same
(Wouldn't be the same)
'Cause girl your love is still on my brain
(Still on my brain)
Britney walks Justin to the front door.
"I'm glad you stopped by," she says holding the door open as he stands on the porch.
"Me too. I got to tell you a lot of things I had been thinking about lately. I hope we're on the same page now," he says, taking her hand.
"I think we are. I guess I'll see you at the AMA's in a couple of days then?"
"You bet," he says.
Before he turns and walks away he leans down and wraps his arms around her waist. It takes her a second to put her arms around his shoulders and return the hug. They stay like this for at least a minute before Britney's phone rings. When he pulls back and smiles at her, he notices that she wipes the corner of her eye before smiling back at him. He touches her cheek and kisses the tip of her nose.
"I'll talk to you later, Brit. I'll call you," he says as he walks away.
"You better," she teases before closing the door.
She giggles, jumps up and down real quick before running upstairs to answer the phone. She glances at the caller ID, wipes another tear away and answers the phone.
"Mama?"
"Oh hey, I wasn't sure if you were home or not," Lynne says. "You sound happy."
"I am, mama...I am."
La la la la la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la la
La la la la la, la-la, la-la, la la
La la la la la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la la
La la, la la, la la, la la
La la la la la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la, la-la, la-la, la la la-la.....